The shaking was so severe it caused vehicles to career into the opposite lane creating chaos. Local authorities claim the shaking of the bridge was possibly caused by an earthquake. Seismologists, however, say this is highly unlikely. Meanwhile, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an investigation into the bridge's safety and construction history.

The bridge across the Volga river is 1260 meters long and 32 meters wide. It was opened less than a year ago in October 2009.